8 Real Dangers of Crash Diets

Crash diets may seem cool because of the dramatic effects but you could be causing more harm than good to your body.

Jason A. Penaranda, M.D.

One of the most common concerns of society now is body weight. Whether the issue is medical or aesthetic, this has become a serious matter all over the world. The rising business of gyms, spas, and slimming supplements and machines are a testament to the extent of what people will do to achieve and keep an ideal weight. A lot of those who want to eliminate excess fats want quick results. And businesses are more than willing to capitalize on this behavior.

This is where new problems start. Crash diets are here, and they’re wreaking havoc on the already compromised bodies of dieters.

Crash diets are programs that promise rapid weight loss over a short period of time. They are usually done without exercise and almost always involve food restrictions, whether in volume or in specific food types.

The Mater Cleanse is one such diet. Also known as Lemonade Diet, this method replaces food with a mixture of lemon juice, organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and distilled water. This runs for at least 10 days. Because of the significant decrease in the daily caloric and nutritional intake, weight loss is indeed expected.

The Master Cleanse and similar crash diets pose a lot of health problems in different ways. Depending on personal circumstances, effects may vary in number and severity.

1. Caloric deprivation. By reducing or totally eliminating food intake, you deprive yourself of vital energy needed by the body to function. The results are sluggishness, weakness, and feelings similar to fatigue. People going through crash diets have very limited activities.